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5G in India Will Require Newer Methods and Diligent Trials
BSNL Broadband Success Might Turn the Luck for Public Telco
Smartphones to Look Out for in July 2021
Bharti Airtel Breathing Back Life Into Postpaid Earnings Via New Plans
Airtel Xstream Fiber Offers Lower Value Rs 800 Plan Compared to ACT Fibernet

5G in India Will Require Newer Methods and Diligent Trials

Posted: 04 Jul 2021 08:00 AM PDT

5G in India

I recently interacted with Mr Sandeep Sudeep, NEC India’s Telecom Head. Mr Sudeep shared a lot of insights about India’s readiness for the 5G trials and related things about the next-generation connectivity technology.

Q1 – What Is Your View on India's Readiness to Conduct a Nationwide 5G Tech Trial?

It is a good idea given that 5G is new. It is important to validate 5G business cases/used cases as well. With multiple OEMs in active discussion, India is ready to run a nationwide tech trial. Needless to say, the operator needs to move judiciously in this regard where the primary objective to test 5G applicability is evaluated.

India is a unique market for telecom solutions compared to the western world. Each location is different in terms of demand density and infrastructural capabilities, and it is even more complicated when it comes to addressing latency challenges and uniform deployment between rural and urban belts.

We need to work in tandem with the telecom operators and service providers to build awareness and knowledge on the technology and existing deployment models to come up with agile processes to accommodate the 5G tech trials. As per the Government mandate, the trials need to address both rural and urban belts, and the infrastructural readiness for each segment varies incredibly.

5G is a disruptive technology, and it requires innovative platforms to deploy it optimally for all geographies. The solution to addressing the infrastructural limitations needs to be creative and innovative enough to allow exponential scaling up at cost-effective rates.

The pandemic has accelerated digital adoption across verticals with no discrimination of B2C vs B2B. Enterprises, as well as end consumers, are in equal demand of high-speed connectivity, with virtual setups being the norm. Thus far, we have managed to keep the connectivity uninterrupted to an extent even though the demand and traffic surge multiplied manifold overnight. This was possible due to the seamless 4G deployment that happened with due diligence. Likewise, for 5G, we need to be prudent to use newer methods and diligent trials to make sure that India benefits from this disruptive technology that can catapult the country into heightened levels of uber connectivity.

At NEC, we are optimally positioned to address projects of this magnitude with our global expertise that covers varied demographics. We believe the future of 5G is better off being a cloud-native technology, and keeping the ecosystem open will catalyse innovation and adaptations further. We need to work closely with the operators and understand their existing infrastructure and operational orchestration capacity to provide the most viable and profitable strategy to reap the benefits of a highly disruptive tech like 5G.

Q2 – What, According to You, Is the Condition of India's Current Infrastructure and Capabilities and the Best Practices That Can Be Deployed to Make This Optimal?

Good fiber/Microwave connectivity, availability of 5G use case, and a lot of learning from the global environment to bring optimality. We need global best practices; we need the active involvement of OEMs/ operations and application providers.

India is a rapidly growing market. Coupling the surge in B2C demand with the hybrid model of workspaces that will be the norm of the post covid world, India has a wide-open market for deploying state-of-the-art tech like 5G. Addressing this in a two-pronged manner, let us look at our current capability and where Indian operators are. From a capability point of view, any vendor who has access to an end-to-end stack would be better positioned to address the open market.

However, any operator in India currently will have access to the basic elements that comprise an end-to-end stack. What is lacking would be the capability to identify your core vendor and devise a bespoke solution that plays up to your current capability and further enhances your areas of lacking.

NEC India is currently focused on developing the telecom sector, including the deployment of Open RAN and 5G solutions to Indian telcos through the open network ecosystem. We have recently opened a CoE in Chennai that caters to 5G technology developments and deployment.

5G necessitates extremely high capacity backhaul in order to deliver the bold promise of high speed/low latency that makes up 5G. NEC is well geared to bring high-capacity E-Band microwaves. Furthermore, we are also equitably positioned to cater to the OSS/BSS space supported by NEC's market-leading Netcracker's OSS/BSS solutions.

Q3 – Being a Frontrunner in 5G Deployment Globally, What Has Been NEC's Experience in Understanding the Requirements for a Seamless Rollout of the Technology, Especially in a Developing Market Like India Including Rural and Urban Belts?

NEC has a fair understanding of India's demographics and also societal needs through multiple government projects. India is just ready for the 5G wave because 4G has seen massive growth, and it has led the path to 5G. Video traffic is growing multiple folds, and so is IOT Growth. With sectors like education, hospitality, industrial automation set to use high capacity speed, India is ready for 5G.

5G is the next big disruption that will put India in the trajectory of complete digital transformation. With the Department of Telecom now allowing the operators 5G tech trials across the rural and urban belts in India, the industry is going to be the focal point for both telcos and India Inc alike. As far as the capability for a large-scale deployment is concerned, the infrastructure and ecosystem are already created. Any operator who is ready for the deployment in terms of their own internal business justifications can partner with NEC for an equitable run.

The statement by DoT clearly mentions that 5G trials will be conducted in both rural and semi-urban settings as well to ensure nondiscriminatory deployment of 5G technology.

These mandates can be easily followed by following an open ecosystem model for the technology. It cuts down on the initial infrastructural setting up costs and leaves a wider space for easy scaling and mass adoption. Being a frontrunner in 5G deployment globally, we understand the requirements for a seamless rollout of the technology, especially in a developing market like India. The creation of an open architecture over a legacy infrastructure in accordance with a multi-vendor industry will serve as the first step towards India's 5G dream.

To further augment our work in this domain, NEC has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Rakuten Mobile to promote Open RAN in global telecom markets. NEC is already providing 5G radio units (5G RU) for Rakuten Mobile's fully virtualised cloud-native mobile network in Japan.

Under the new MoU, Rakuten Mobile and NEC will expand upon their domestic collaboration to provide Open RAN systems (4G and 5G radios and engineering services) aligned with O-RAN specifications for global mobile telecommunications markets. This MoU is expected to empower both NEC and Rakuten Mobile to contribute in an even more comprehensive way to the opening and virtualisation of cellular networks around the world.

Q4 – Your View on Ramping Up Security and Privacy Protection Ahead of 5G?

This is one area NEC has worked in historically. We do realize that with millions of IoT transactions, security will be of massive importance. NEC security framework involves 4 different facets, i.e. security management, security as digital service, cloud security, and also network security. We imagine that healthcare, manufacturing, and logistics, among other verticals, will have massive security needs.

One of the core components of the 5G open RAN structure is TELCO CLOUD involving tons of virtualisation. We need to bring all the best practices of security from the pure IT domain and further enhance it for 5G telecom deployments. By natural deduction, 5G should have tighter security policies and encryption esp. for Indian demographics.

5G is a technology that should be deployed in a cloud-native format. Naturally, the level of security required to adopt and deploy high-end tech stacks of this magnitude exclusively on a shared and open ecosystem will require a robust, secure network that can enable seamless transactions across geographies. It is imperative that we ramp up security and privacy protection before the technology goes mainstream.

The recent cybersecurity and data breach cases throw light on the current Indian scenario and highlight the need for data privacy laws and stringent regulatory measures to ensure systemic and standardised security checking protocols.
In order to make this industry more secure and innovation-driven, we need to put in place a robust ecosystem that nurtures and encourages secure partnerships across vendors, telcos, and enterprises. As an organization that places utmost importance on security, we are developing best-in-class security solutions that will match up the requirements and speed of 5G enabled tech.

BSNL Broadband Success Might Turn the Luck for Public Telco

Posted: 04 Jul 2021 05:00 AM PDT

BSNL Broadband

There are two telecom operators in the country who are suffering at the hands of the incumbent and the top-performing other telecom operators. One is a private telecom company, and the other is a public-owned telecom operator. No more words need to be mentioned for the readers to know whom we are talking about. But, it's also true that every telco has something unique to offer to the subscribers, which is helping them survive in the industry. For Reliance Jio, it's the pricing, whereas BSNL seems to be at a disadvantage given its lack of a 4G network. But looking at the wired broadband scenario, the tale seems to be singing a completely different tune.

BSNL’s Recent Success in Wired Broadband

As per BSNL's official figures, the public telecom operator added 1.1 lakh wired subscribers, out of which most subscribers were in Kerala and the second most subscribers being from Tamil Nadu. It's not a secret that BSNL's Kerala circle is a jewel in the crown for the public telecom company. All the most innovative, invigorating, and attractive schemes of BSNL first cradle in the Kerala circle before finding their way to the rest of the country, and the same is true for BSNL 4G.

Diverging a little from this trend, BSNL's broadband business has found its foothold in almost all corners of the country, where it is offering vastly similar plans which compete with the likes of Reliance Jio, You Broadband, and Tata Sky broadband. Hence, we see a wide divide between the mobile broadband network of BSNL and its wired broadband service. The expansive network of BSNL, which spans nooks and crannies of the country, is also a help in extending these FTTH broadband services to the remotest locations. The pandemic has already driven the demand for data and people's want for a stable wired connection. BSNL has found a catalyst in this demand and hammered a nail on hot iron.

BSNL Bundling OTT Subscriptions

The last nail in the coffin for BSNL was perhaps the inclusion of OTT subscriptions along with its plans. Firstly, BSNL slowly started ramping up its speed, and then it started adding OTT subscriptions. Which now includes Disney+ and Hotstar Premium.

The thing to note here is that while most bundled Hotstar subscriptions are VIP ones and not Premium and there's quite a price difference between VIP and Premium Hotstar subscriptions. This makes the Rs 999 and Rs 1,499 BSNL broadband plan a very attractive option.

This new turning wave signals that what BSNL might be missing out on the 4G front, it might be on the path of making up via broadband revenue. Of course, there is a long way to go for the public telecom operator. But combined with a government stimulus, some good intention, management, and such attractive plans, BSNL might turn its luck on its head to become an industry headliner once again. Perhaps what can be a pragmatic move for the public telecom operator might be bundling prepaid, and BSNL FTTH offers in a single bundle to provide the customers with discounts, as is the case with Airtel Black.

Smartphones to Look Out for in July 2021

Posted: 04 Jul 2021 02:00 AM PDT

Smartphones Launch

The Indian smartphone market is witnessing the launch of premium and budgeted smartphones. Some of the major smartphones entities like Samsung, Xiaomi, Realme and OnePlus are gearing up to launch exclusive handsets in July 2021. Not only this, but the very own domestic entity Micromax is also gearing up to launch its In 2B handset in India. If you are a smartphone enthusiast, embrace yourself for all the upcoming smartphones in July 2021. Follow the article to the end to know to get details regarding the launch date and specifications of these upcoming smartphones.

OnePlus Nord 2

OnePlus recently rolled out the Nord CE in India last month to capture mid-range customers. Now the Chinese smartphone entity is gearing up to launch the OnePlus Nord 2 in the Indian market. The smartphone is expected to sport a MediaTek chipset. As for design specifications, it is speculated that the smartphone will feature the same design dimensions as of OnePlus 9 Series. The price range of the OnePlus Nord 2 is expected to be around Rs 30,000.

Samsung Galaxy M22

Samsung Galaxy M22 is said to be a rebranded version of Samsung Galaxy A22. The smartphone has already received several certifications from Geekbench and other listing portals. Samsung Galaxy M22 is expected to feature MediaTek Helio G80 Chipset and 25W fast charging support. It is also speculated that the smartphone might feature a 5000mAh battery.

Micromax In 2B

The Micromax In 2B is expected to be the budget offering that will land in the Indian market in July 2021. The smartphone could be powered by Unisoc T610 Chipset along with 4GB of RAM. Also, the smartphone is expected to run on Android 11 OS out of the box. At the moment, there is less information available regarding the specifications of Micromax In 2B.

Redmi 10 Series

The Redmi 10 Series is rumoured to launch in July 2021 as the successor of the Redmi 9 series. It is speculated that the entity can launch Redmi 10A and Redmi 10 Power under the upcoming series. The price range of smartphones is expected to revolve around Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000.

Realme GT 5G Master Edition

The smartphone is expected to be the Realme GT camera flagship device that will be launched in the Indian market in July 2021. The Realme GT 5G is rumoured to feature Snapdragon 870 SoC with 108MP triple rear cameras. The smartphone is expected to pack a 4500 mAh battery with a 65W fast charging solution. Currently, there is less information available regarding the price of the Realme GT 5G Master Edition.

Bharti Airtel Breathing Back Life Into Postpaid Earnings Via New Plans

Posted: 03 Jul 2021 10:26 PM PDT

Bharti Airtel

Friday saw the launch of the new Bharti Airtel postpaid series of plans known as Airtel Black. The name sounds as premium as the service and we can't disagree because of the promises that the telecom operator is making for these plans. The telco has said that it will bundle all other services in the same plan, such as Digital TV, and Airtel Xtream Broadband plan under a single bill which the consumers will be able to pay and see in the Airtel Thanks app. This will bring, not only a lot of ease for the consumers but also many benefits since Airtel will keep these customers at priority when it comes to grievance redressal.

The Revival of Postpaid

We should also not lose sight of another premium postpaid offering by a competing telco which is named after a colour. What we are talking about here is Vodafone RED. While Airtel Black is about including all other services under a single bill, the Vodafone RED plan does something different by offering premium services to postpaid customers. What seems to be happening in the industry right now is a revived interest in postpaid offerings.

It is worth noting that in the previous years, as much as 40% of the revenue of the telecom operators has come from postpaid plans, with only 5% of the numbers belonging to the postpaid connections. Hence, there is no doubt that when it comes to revenue, postpaid plans are a much better bet as compared to prepaid connections. It’s just that companies in India find it hard to market these plans.

It goes without saying that postpaid is a sure-shot earner for the telecom companies given its high ARPU delivery for the company and if there is any industry metric that the companies are chasing relentlessly it is that only. Many companies have seen their ARPU dip courtesy of the IUC charges which have been wiped away from the industry. The 0.06 Rs charge which was paid among operators was something that was done away with, this has surely eaten away a chunk of the revenue. The premium postpaid plans seem to be a remedy.

The Effect on ARPU Because of Postpaid

While Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio have the luxury to offer bundled plans with many other services included in it. Other telecom operators like Vodafone Idea can't seem to do so because of the relative absence of You Broadband in many circles and cities.

Reliance Jio seems to be totally missing out on the premium bundled postpaid plans and rightly so because the telecom operator has less to worry about its finances. Courtesy of the high response towards its postpaid plans, constantly rising broadband connections, the telco is better disposed to handle the financial brunt of the industry.

Perhaps, what the other competing telecom operators can do is bundle family plans in a single postpaid connection, something which has been done before along with some premium services like OTT subscriptions to find high-paying consumers. This is likely to add more to the financial pie of the telecom operators and will help the companies in rising towards the Rs 220 ARPU, famously predicted by ICRA.

Airtel Xstream Fiber Offers Lower Value Rs 800 Plan Compared to ACT Fibernet

Posted: 03 Jul 2021 06:31 PM PDT

Airtel Xstream Fiber

Airtel Xstream Fiber is one of the largest fiber broadband brands in India. The service comes directly from Bharti Airtel, a premier telecommunications company that is known for providing quality mobile services. Then there is ACT Fibernet, an emerging internet service provider (ISP) that has expanded operations in multiple parts of the country in the last few years. Both the companies are pretty well known and have a large number of customers around the country. ACT Fibernet and Airtel Xstream Fiber both provide users with an Rs 800 plan, but ACT's plan might just be better; here's why.

ACT Fibernet Rs 799 Plan Benefits Detailed

ACT Fibernet offers a Rs 799 plan to the users. I have written the round figure for it, which is Rs 800. It is the same case with Airtel's plan; I have used the round figure amount there as well. ACT Fibernet offers users 150 Mbps speed to the users along with unlimited data. Unlimited data from ACT Fibernet comes with a fair-usage-policy (FUP) limit, which is 3,300GB or 3.3TB. Post consumption of FUP data, the internet speed for the users will drop to 512 Kbps.

There are more benefits offered with the ACT's plan. Users get a free one month trial of the ZEE5 Premium, Hungama's subscription for a discounted rate of Rs 99 per month, Sony LIV for Rs 299 per month, Aha at Rs 299 per year, ACT Shield at Rs 49 per month, and free one month trial of Cult.fit. Let's take a look at Airtel Xstream Fiber's plan now.

Airtel Xstream Fiber Rs 799 Plan Benefits Detailed

This is not a new plan from the company; hence many of you might already know its benefits. Regardless, the plan comes with 100 Mbps speed, a free fixed-line voice calling connection, Airtel Thanks benefits, and 3,333GB or 3.3TB FUP data for the month.

The Airtel Thanks benefits offered with this plan include a free subscription to the Airtel Xstream Premium, Wynk Music, Shaw Academy, and more. Users can also get the Airtel Xstream Box for refundable security of Rs 1,500.

Which Plan is Better?

The Airtel Xstream Fiber's Rs 799 per month plan is almost similar to ACT Fibernet's Rs 799 plan. Both the companies offer almost the same amount of data to the users and some additional benefits. However, purely in terms of speed, Airtel Xstream Fiber's plan gets a little behind ACT Fibernet's plan. There's really minor difference between the plans except for when it comes to the speed offered by either of them.

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